Plant growth regulators

ABSTRACT

New and valuable agents containing nitrogenous salts for regulating plant growth.

United States Patent [191 Zeeh et a1.

[4 1 Sept. 16, 1975 [73] Assignee: Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen (Rhine), Germany [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 328,645

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 18,1972 Germany ..2207575 521 U.S.Cl. 71/76;7l/92;71/94;

511 1m.ci. A0lN9/14 [58] Field of Search 71/94, 95, 92, 76, 78

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,402,039 9/1968 Mussel] et a1 71/76 3,736,121 5/1973 Zeeh et a] 71/76 3,802,862 4/1974 Bidlack 71/94 3,804,612 4/1974 Hedrich 71/94 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Renshaw et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 60, 745 (1938). ibid. 61, 638 (1939). Saunders et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 88, 3376 (1966).

Primary Examiner-James 0. Thomas, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnston, Keil, Thompson & Shurtleff [5 7] ABSTRACT New and valuable agents containing nitrogenous salts for regulating plant growth.

2 Claims, N0 Drawings PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS The present invention relates to agents for regulating plant growth which contain as active ingredients salts of cyclic nitrogenous compounds, and the use of these salts for controlling plant growth.

It is known to use nitrogenous compounds such as chlorocholine chloride (CCC) (J. Biol. Chem, 235, 475, 1960) and l-(B-chloroethyh-l,l-dimethylhydrazinium chloride (CMH) (Naturwissenschaften, 55, 217, 1968) for influencing the growth of plants. These compounds have an effect on the physiology of plant growth and may therefore be employed as plant growth regulators.

One of the typical effects of plant growth regulators is a reduction in plant height. Similarly, seed germination may be stimulated or flowering induced, i.e., it is possible to influence the plants natural rhythm. Plant growth regulators can also promote or inhibit tillering.

Of economic interest is for example the minimization of lodging in cereals, and the slowing down of grass growth on verges and lawns, thus reducing mowing frequency.

When prior art plant growth regulators are used for instance on cereals to compact the plant stem to reduce lodging, their action is poor.

We have now found that salts of the formula where R denotes methyl or ethyl, X denotes the anion of an inorganic or organic but not phytotoxic acid, preferably chloride or bromide, and A denotes a chain of four or five methylene groups, which chain may be substituted by chloro, bromo, methyl, chloromethyl, bromomethyl, hydroxymethyl and methylene, or which chain containing one or two double bonds, or A denotes the chain (CH ),,NH-, n denoting one of the integers 3 and 4, are suitable for controlling growth in numerous plants, and particularly for reducing plant height. The action is better than that achieved by prior art plant growth regulators.

The salts may also be employed together with other plant protection agents, e.g., herbicides, insecticides, and especially fungicides. It is of significance in practice to use the salts together with fertilizers, particularly ureas.

The action of the compounds of the invention is particularly in evidence in cereals, e.g., wheat, rye, barley, rice and oats; dicotyledons, e.g., potatoes, tomatoes, vines and cotton; and various ornamentals, e.g., poinsettia and hibiscus. The treated plants exhibit a compact habit and darker leaf coloration.

The activity of the compounds is attributable to the cation, so that practically any anion may be used. However, anions of phytotoxic acids should not be employed if the intention is only to influence plant growth and not to kill the plants. Examples of suitable acids are hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, car- I bonic acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, benzoic acid, monomethyl and monoethyl ester of sulfuric acid, 2-ethylhexar ioic acid,

acrylic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, adipic added,

4-chlorol 1 -dimethylpiperidinium chloride [m.p.

230C (decomposes) 3-chloro- 1 l -dimethylpiperidinium chloride [m.p.

245C (decomposes)]; 1 l,l-dimethylpiperidinium chloride (m.p. 350C) 1, l-dimethylpiperidinium bromide (m.p. 346C from ethanol);

l,l-dimethylpiperidinium iodide [m.p. 350C (decomposes)];

3 ,4-dehydro-l l-dimethylpiperidinium chloride [m.p. 330C (decomposes)];

3,4-dehydrol l-dimethylpiperidinium bromide (m.p. 300C);

3,4-dehydro 1 l-dimethylpiperidinium iodide [m.p.

274 to 275C (decomposes)];

l l ,Z-trimethylpiperidinium chloride;

1 l ,2,6-tetramethylpiperidinium chloride;

1,1 ,3-trimethylpiperidinium chloride;

cis-2,6-dimethyll l-dimethylpiperidinium (m.p. 275C); 2-hydroxymethyll l -dimethylpiperidinium chloride [m.p. 288C (decomposes)];

l-methyll -ethylpiperidinium chloride;

lmethyl-l-ethylpiperidinium iodide (m.p. 325C);

1 l -dimethylpiperidinium methosulfate (m.p.

l 12C); v

l ,Z-dihydrol l -dimethylpyridinium bromide [m.p.

167 to 170C (decomposes)];

1 1 -dimethylpyrrolidinium chloride;

1 l -dimethylpyrrolidinium bromide (m.p.

from ethanol);

2-methyll l -dimethylpyrrolidinium chloride m.p.

2-bromomethyll l-dimethylpyrrolidinium chloride [m.p. 224 to 225C (decomposes)]; 3,4-dehydro-l l-dimethylpyrrolidinium iodide [m.p.

286C (decomposes)]; l-methyl-l-ethylpyrrolidinium chloride [m.p. 284C (decomposes) l-methyl-l-ethylpyrrolidinium iodide [m.p. 335C (decomposes) All the compounds are hygroscopic solids having a high melting point of little sharpness since it usually rises as the water content of the compounds drops.

The salts are in general well-known. Some references are given below which describe the preparation of some of these salts:

R. R. Renshaw et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 60, 745

(1938); ibid. 61, 638 (1939) R. Willstiitter, Chem. Ber., 33, 365 (1900) E. Wedekind and R. Oechslen, Chem. Ber., 35, 1076 F. Weygand and H. Daniel, Chem. Ber., 94, 1688 R. Lukes and Z. Vesely, Coll. Czech. Chem. Commun., 22, 638 (1957) iodide The preparation of some salts by various methods is illustrated below:

EXAMPLE 1 17 parts (by weight) of 4-chloro-1-methylpiperidine is dissolved in 150 parts of absolute ether and 40 parts of a 5N methyl bromide solution in acetonitrile is then added. After 4 hours the precipitate is suction filtered; there is obtained 22 parts of 4-chloro-l,1- dimethylpiperidinium bromide melting at 295C (decomposes).

EXAMPLE 2 EXAMPLE 3 19.4 parts of 1,1-dimethylpiperidinium bromide is dissolved in 60 parts of water and stirred with 40 parts of silver chloride for 30 minutes at room temperature. The mixture is subsequently filtered and the filtrate evaporated in vacuo. The residue is washed with acetone and ether and dried. There is obtained 13.5 parts of 1,1-dimethylpiperidinium chloride melting at 350C.

The agents according to the invention may be used as solutions, emulsions, suspensions, granules or dusts. The form of application depends entirely on the purpose for which the agents are being used; in any case it should ensure a fine distribution of the active ingredient.

For the preparation of solutions to be sprayed direct, the solution in water is suitable. However, dispersions in hydrocarbons having boiling points higher than 150C, e.g. tetrahydronaphthalene or alkylated naphthalenes, or organic liquids having boiling points higher than 150C and having one or more than one functional group, eg the keto group, the ether group, the ester group or the amide group, this group or these groups being attached as substituent(s) to a hydrocarbon chain or being a component of a heterocyclic ring, may also be used as spray liquids.

. Aqueous formulations may be prepared from emulsion concentrates,'pastes or wettable powders by addin g water. To prepare emulsions the ingredients as such or dissolved in a solvent may be homogenized in water or organic solvents by means of wetting or dispersing agents, e.g., polyethylene oxide adducts. Concentrates whichare suitable for dilution with water may be prepared from active ingredient, emulsifyingor dispersing agent and possibly solvent.

Dusts may be prepared by mixing or grinding the active ingredients with a solid carrier, e.g., kieselguhr,

talc, clay or fertilizers. If the agents of the invention are used in granular form, it is preferred to mix them with fertilizers.

The biological activity of some of the compounds of the invention is illustrated below:

EXAMPLE 4 Wheat grains of the Opal variety were sowed in loamy sandy soil in Neubauer dishes (diameter: 12 cm). Immediately after sowing the soilwas treated with 3 mg and 6 mg per dish, equivalent to application rates of 3 and 6 kg/hectare. The active ingredients were sprayed in aqueous solution onto the soil surface. For comparison purposes there were used: an untreated control dish, and dishes'treated at the same application 'rates with chlorocholine chloride (CCC), and 1-( B- chloroethyl )-1 l -dimethylhydrazinium chloride (CMH). The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions, and the following results were obtained after 20 days:

Relative growth height These results show that the active ingredient of the invention has a better action than CCC at the lower application rate. This superior action to CCC is also in evidence on other cereals, as is demonstrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLE 5 The active ingredients were tested on barley of the Breuns-Wisa variety under the same conditions as in Example 4. The treatment here, however, was carried out at application rates of 1.5 mg, 3 mg and 6 mg per dish, at a growth height of the plants of 10 cm. The following table shows the influence on growth after 6 days:

Relative growth height Active ingredientv 1.5 mg/dish 3 mg/dish 6 mg/dish Control (untreated) 100 100 100 CCC 93 91 94 CMH 89 91 87 4chloro-l 1 -dirnethylpiperidinium bromide 89 89 87 l, l -dimcthyl-3,4dehydropiperidinium bromide 79 83 EXAMPLE 6 A further experiment was carried out under the conditions of Example 4 on rye of the Petkuser variety. The soil in the dishes was treated with 3 mg, 6 mg and 12 mg per dish, corresponding-to application rates of 3, 6 and 12 kg per hectare. The following results were obtained 20 days after treatment.

Relative growth height The active ingredients were tested under the same conditions as in Examples 4 and 6 on oats of the Flaemingskrone variety. The application rates were 1.5 mg, 3 mg and 12 mg per dish, corresponding to 1.5, 3 and 12 kg per hectare. 20 days after treatment the following results were obtained:

Relative growth height Active ingredient 1.5 mg/dish 3 mg/dish l2 mg/dish Control (untreated) I00 I00 I00 CCC 97 94 87 4-chlorol l -dimethylpiperidinium bromide 92 94 87 l, l -dimethyl-3 ,4-dehydrn piperidinium bromide 94 92 7) EXAMPLE 8 Potato plants of the Tasso variety (second early crop) were tested at a growth height of 8 to cm. The active ingredients were sprayed at application rates of 1.5 kg per hectare and .6 kg per hectare. The following results were obtained after 2 weeks:

Relative growth height Active ingredient 1.5 kg/ha 6 kg /ha Control (untreated) I00 100 CCC 97 93 4-chlor0 l l -dimethylpiperidinium bromide 97 89 l l -dimethyl-3,4-dehydropiperidinium bromide 86 65 EXAMPLE 9 The procedure of Example 4 was adopted in an experiment with barley (Breuns-Wisa variety). The action of l, l-dimethylhexahydropyridazinium bromide was compared with that of CCC at application rates of 3 and 12 mg per dish, corresponding to 3 and 12 kg per hectare. The compounds were applied immediately after the barley had been sowed. Three weeks after treatment the following results were obtained; as is apparent, the action of l l -dimethylhexahydropyridazinium bromide caused a much greater reduction in plant height than the prior art compound CCC.

Relative growth height Active ingredient 3 mg/dish l2 mg/dish Control (untreated) I00 I00 CCC 82 l l -dimethylhexahydropyridazinium bromide 87 72 We claim:

1. A process for stunting crop plant growth which comprises applying to the host soil for said crop plants a plant growth stunting amount in the range of 0.5 to 8 kg. per hectare of a member selected from the group consisting of l l -dimethyl-3,4-dehydropiperidinium bromide, 4chlorol l -dimethylpiperidinium bromide, l,l-dimethylhexahydropyridazinium bromide, and 1,1- dimethylpiperidinium chloride.

2. A process for stunting crop plant growth which comprises applying to the crop plants themselves a plant growth stunting amount in the range of 0.5 to 8 kg. per hectare of a member selected from the group consisting of l,1-dimethyl-3,4-dehydropiperidinium bromide, 4-chlorol 1 -dimethylpiperidinium bromide, l,ldimethylhexahydropyridazinium bromide, and 1,1-

dimethylpiperidinium chloride. 

1. A PROCESS FOR STUNTING CROP PLANT GROWTH WHICH COMPRISES APPLYING TO THE HOST SOIL FOR SAID CROP PLANTS TO PLANT GROWTH STUNTING AMOUNT IN THE RANGE OF 0.5 TO 8 KG. PER HECTARE OF A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 1,1-DIMETHYL3,4-DEHYDROPIPERDINIUM BROMIDE, 4-CHLORO-1,1-DIMETHYLPIPERIDINIUM BROMIDE, 1,1-DIMETHYLHEXAHYDROPYRIDAZINIUM BROMINE, AND 1,1-DIMETHYLPIPERIDINIUM CHLORIDE.
 2. A process for stunting crop plant growth which comprises applying to the crop plants themselves a plant growth stunting amount in the range of 0.5 to 8 kg. per hectare of a member selected from the group consisting of 1,1-dimethyl-3,4-dehydropiperidinium bromide, 4-chloro-1,1-dimethylpiperidinium bromide, 1,1-dimethylhexahydropyridazinium bromide, and 1,1-dimethylpiperidinium chloride. 